As a general rule, when you use someone else’s work in your own project, you need to cite it. This is true whether you’re using text, code, or images.
Images are a bit different from text and code, though, because there isn’t a standard way to format citations for them. That said, there are a few general guidelines you can follow.
When deciding whether or not to cite an image, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the image under copyright?
- Did you create the image yourself?
- Is the image in the public domain?
If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” then you should cite the image. Copyrighted images can’t be used without permission from the copyright holder, even if you give credit. And images that you didn’t create yourself need to be attributed to the person who did.
If you are unsure whether or not an image requires attribution, it is best to err on the side of caution and include a link back to the original source. Failure to do so could result in legal action.
Images in the public domain are fair game, though. These are images that are no longer under copyright protection because they’re old enough, or they’ve been released by their creators into the public domain. You can use these images without asking permission or giving credit.
Do I Need to Cite Images From Canva?
Yes, if you use an image from Canva in your project, you need to cite it. Canva offers a wide selection of both free and premium images, all of which are under copyright protection. If you use an image from Canva without citing it, you could be infringing on someone’s copyright.
In conclusion, it is always good practice to attribute any resources that you have used in your project regardless of whether they are text, code or images. Images are protected by copyright just like any other work and therefore should be cited accordingly.
